Average annual precipitation has risen in the Northeast, and soil moisture generally has also increased, according to the assessment.

Moreover, extreme precipitation has been "increasing strongly" in the Northeast, according to the assessment. And extreme precipitation events are often linked to flash floods, a leading cause of death linked to weather events.

With development on the rise in New Jersey, the amount of stormwater runoff will increase. More runoff, additional precipitation and river flooding are a recipe for disasters.